PANAJI: Stating that there is lack of sense in the country as regards preserving the national heritage, the noted Goan historian, Mr Percival Noronha on Sunday said that it was sad to observe many priests around Goa selling out precious belongings of the churches and chapels, including antique ornamentation and valuable furniture, for money.

He also pointed out that a number of similar valuable items from Palacio do Cabo/Raj Bhavan, which is the official residence of the state Governor, disappeared down the years, after the Liberation of Goa.

Delivering a lecture on the topic, ‘Heritage and Indo-Portuguese Furniture’ as organised by the Indo-Portuguese Friendship Society-Goa at its city premises, Mr Noronha lamented that many of the valuable belongings of the local churches and chapels are being sold in the five-star antique shops. "I have also written a letter to the Archbishop informing him about this fact," he added.

The delegate of Fundação Oriente in India, Dr Eduardo Kol de Carvalho was the chief guest on the occasion. The president of the IPFS-Goa, Mr Elinio Colaço was also present on the occasion.

Speaking further, Mr Noronha alleged that various priests as well as those linked with churches, chapels as well as parishes around the state were altering the original form of Catholic prayer houses, thus seriously affecting their character, constitution and heritage significance. "The St Inez Church in the city, the Church of St Mathews de Apostle at Assosim, the Church of St Andrew de Apostle at Goa Velha and the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Batim are some of the examples wherein without taking care of the aesthetics as well as heritage value of these religious houses, modern structures are either incorporated in them or constructed nearby," he pointed out.

Maintaining that the Vatican lays emphasis on church paraphernalia and their protection, the octogenarian Goan historian said that the local Catholic religious leaders are not at all concerned about the same. "The fate of our antiques lies in their sale at the market," he bemoaned.

Mentioning that furniture is a part of Goan heritage and lifestyle and cannot be seen as an independent entity, Mr Noronha said that local artisans/carpenters with their receptive minds proved highly adaptive and included various aspects of Western furniture in the local one. Informing that the antique piece of Indian furniture mostly in vogue was ‘paat’ or wooden flat seat, which is being used even today, the senior Goan historian said that once the Portuguese arrived in Goa our furniture was influenced by Portuguese furniture linked to the Gothic, Baroque and may other periods.

"Several decorative motifs were adopted by local craftsmen in the carving of furniture just as the Indian forest provided quality timber like Sisso, Sal, timber and so on for their creation," Mr Noronha said, noting that unfortunately the government restricted its tree plantation drive to the eucalyptus variety.

Stressing that church fixtures and furniture are wealth of our heritage, Mr Noronha stated that the church furniture comprises of chests of drawers, coffers, benches, sofas, and armchairs with high backrest from where the ministers of church used to address the congregation. Informing that the production of the Indo-Portuguese furniture entered into a frank decline in the second quarter of the 20th century, the noted Goan historian lamented that the new trend of modern monotonous style of furniture has replaced the old Indo-Portuguese furniture. "Incidentally, ‘Voltaire,’ the popular armchair used in Goa by the influential class during the Portuguese regime, had its roots in France and not Portugal," he concluded.